About

I’m not a grandma, and this isn’t a Chinese food blog (although I do have some greateasyAsian recipes). I’m a mom of four, a native Californian, a Midwesterner by marriage, a home cook, a former investment banker, and definitely not a marketing genius.

I am just a believer in old-school food and philosophy, inspired by my real Chinese grandmas. Being a chinese grandma is about hard work and resourcefulness, caring for friends as family, carrying traditions while adapting to the ever-changing flow of life.

Chinese grandmas are full of practical wisdom. It’s those nuggets – food and otherwise – that I try to share here, in an effort to make daily life a little easier.

Feeding people is casual in my dream kitchen. I make simple food with real ingredients. I entice you to eat your vegetables. I always have a sweet treat on hand.

The first question Chinese people ask when someone comes to the house is “Have you eaten?” Preparing and eating food is a cultural excuse to linger together.

The Californian in me geeks out over fresh fruits and vegetables, farmers markets and artisan food makers. I believe the first step to feeling well is eating well.

I think food should be fresh, comforting, nourishing. I like my meals light and plentiful, so that I can eat generously and still have room for dessert.

I write a lot about food because to me it’s the root of daily life – the foundation of personal health, the center of family life, a communion with others, a connection with nature. Meals are the breaks in our busy days to connect and reflect, and good food is nourishment to body and spirit. Food is about sharing.

My heart is in home cooking – uncomplicated, healthful, satisfying food you can live on. I feature recipes that are easy and reliable, and I write recipes and take pictures to guide you if you need extra help. (I keep a recipe index, my own virtual recipe box, from which you can print off a quick recipe or read through a detailed post with pictures.)

Aloha from Hawaii! I totally love your blog and the topics…its great! I can relate in so many ways! I am also venturing back to school and getting a Masters degree in Educational Technology so its fun to see what you have created from taking your class this summer! Great topics and life lessons! I am a cousin of Dawn H. Thank you for sharing!

What an amazing creative outlet! I put myself on the mailing list so I can receive the latest updates. 🙂 I’m making a couple writer friends of mine watch that Elizabeth Gilbert speech you posted. Congrats on such a beautiful site!

Lilian – LOVE the blog! The other day I saw your post for chicken and green beans, and rocked it the next night. Awesome. I substituted snap peas because that is what the hubby craved, and it worked like a charm. Keep on posting!!! – Lucinda

I love your blog! It was so great to have lunch with you yesterday at the TEDWomen conference. I appreciate our honest on conversation about finding the balance in life. Cheers to being present and finding quite time;)

Hi CG – I just discovered your blog site – I was looking for a chicken and green bean dish. I found it and I found you too! I have already made so many of your delicious meals and look forward to many more. BTW I have the Wild Boar sauce simmering on the stove as I write. YUMMY

Lillian! Is that you?!? I need to talk to Alli and the fact that she never told me you have a blog! I stumbled upon it looking for a blondie recipe and I especially like it when the comparison is done for you to figure out which is best! So job well done! Plus, I’m a die hard ATK, Cook’s Country, etc. fan. Roar, Lions, Roar! All the best to you and your family!

Hello from the deep south!
As a Southern girl I was raised with the sure knowledge that southern hospitality is always present at the table. With lots of family, friends and the occasional stranger to share meals with, nearly every meal was an occasion. We cooked with lots of butter and animal fats, lots of gluten packed dishes. Everything was heavily salted and always washed down with syrupy sweet tea.
I want to keep the traditions that are so wonderfully southern but create a lighter, brighter and healthier lifestyle to share and keep as a legacy for my children and grandchildren. In researching these changes, I came across your recipes. Exactly what I was looking for. Many ideas this Alabama Nana will be incorporating to menus, potlucks and gift dishes.
Your entire blog is a refreshing joy to read. Thank you.

hi coni – oh i am so behind on replies here! your comment made me so happy. i love food, sharing and hospitality too, and i agree with you about providing ourselves and and our loved ones the best possible fuel for health. thanks so much for taking the time to write.

I came to your website via a Google search for non-mayonnaise-based cole slaw, but your site and personal information pulled so many personal strings that I had to message you. I was born in Columbus but have lived in the south since 1986, thus being forced into becoming a BBQ -afficionado 😉 and thus my search for the cole slaw. (The next time I’m in Columbus I’ll have to give your recommended BBQ place a try!) I learned my basic Chinese cooking skills while taking a night school Chinese cooking class taught by a Vietnamese woman whose main western language was French in Upper Arlington in the 1960s. ( My old mimeographed recipe sheets have some interesting French phonetic spellings such as H’uen T’uen for WonTon.) And I marched in the OSU Marching Band to boot! I’ve enjoyed looking through your website.

welcome

chinese grandma is a philosophy about food, family, health and practicality inspired by old-school grandmas everywhere. It's about cooking good food, living a good life, and sharing lessons learned. More about me...